4 days ago
Did Macron say that Africa still needs France in order to "thrive"?
French President Emmanuel Macron allegedly claimed that African countries would be unable to "thrive without French involvement", according to a series of posts circulating on social media.
"Africa remains the least developed continent, and history shows we have a role to play in supporting its growth. A complete withdrawal could halt progress', states a post supposedly quoting Macron, which has been viewed almost 700k times.
A number of the posts which relay the claim feature the same press shot of Macron.
By conducting a reverse image search and checking that results matched with the picture shared on social media, EuroVerify was able to match the photo with press shots taken at a European summit held in Brussels on 6 March 2025.
An analysis of Macron's speech, as well as a further sweep of news reports and official statements made by the French President, yielded no evidence for the quotes attributed to him.
Meanwhile, French diplomatic sources further refuted the quotes attributed to the French leader, branding them as "false.'
A number of the social media accounts which attributed the statement to Macron have also shared pro-Russian propaganda and backed the Alliance of the Sahel States (AES).
The AES is an alliance made up of Mali, Niger and Burkina Faso, countries which are all governed by military regimes that came to power following coups. It was formed after the West African bloc ECOWAS threatened to restore civilian rule in Niger through military intervention, after a coup ousted the country's president Mohamed Bazoum in July 2023.
Russia was the first country to recognise the alliance, as it works to expand its presence in Africa, while France has been progressively withdrawing its troops from the region, faced with increasing opposition against its military presence.
Although this particular statement attributed to Macron may not be true, some of the French President's previous claims regarding France's involvement in Africa have sparked backlash from African leaders.
For instance, in January leaders in Chad and Senegal accused Macron of showing contempt, after he declared that West African leaders had forgotten to "thank" France for helping to combat Islamist militants in the Sahel region.
Since 2022, France has been progressively withdrawing its troops from West Africa due to opposition against French military presence in the region.
The very public fallout between Donald Trump and tech billionaire Elon Musk, once among the US president's closest advisors, has rippled across the Atlantic, drawing fascination as well as anxiety from Europe's right-wing and far-right political circles.
The collapse of the Trump-Musk alliance, marked by bitter exchanges over government contracts and personal insults, has left many on Europe's right politically adrift. Online, the moment has already spawned memes comparing European parties to children caught in a bitter divorce.
Yet beyond the humour, the European right woke up in shock.
For many of its leaders, Trump had served as proof that a nationalist 'wave' was not only possible but already underway.
Musk, meanwhile, became an unlikely champion of their causes, lending legitimacy, visibility, and even a platform to far-right movements like Germany's AfD and Italy's Lega, with particularly close ties to Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni.
So far, there has been no official comment from Europe's right-wing leaders on the Trump-Musk rift. That silence is striking as these politicians are usually quick to react to global events, especially those involving figures they admire.
Their hesitation suggests a deeper unease: being forced to choose sides could present a strategic dilemma that reshapes the future of Europe's right-wing landscape.
Germany's far-right Alternative für Deutschland (AfD) faces a delicate balancing act. While the party has long admired Trump's nationalist politics – often calling for a 'Germany First' approach – it has also benefited significantly from Musk's support.
Musk has repeatedly praised the AfD, once stating, 'Only the AfD can save Germany.' Ahead of Germany's federal elections, he even participated in livestreamed discussions with AfD co-leader Alice Weidel and used his platform X (formerly Twitter) to amplify the party's messaging.
Meanwhile, German Chancellor Friedrich Merz, who was present at the White House during part of the unfolding dispute between the pair, hasn't commented, though his CDU party competes directly with the AfD and is likely watching developments closely.
Italy's Lega and its leader Matteo Salvini face a similar dilemma but from a slightly different angle.
Salvini has long styled himself as Italy's most pro-Trump figure, even more so than his rival Giorgia Meloni.
Yet Musk has also courted Lega. In April, he addressed the party's national congress in Florence via video link as a star guest, echoing his involvement with the AfD.
For Meloni, the situation is even more complex as she has cultivated relationships with both men.
As the first Western European leader to meet Trump following the announcement of US tariffs on EU goods, she positioned herself as a diplomatic bridge between Washington and Brussels.
At the same time, she has maintained a pragmatic, deal-oriented relationship with Musk, particularly regarding potential SpaceX contracts for Italian defence communications.
Despite their ties to Musk and shared ideological overlaps, both Meloni and Salvini are likely to side with Trump in the event of a political schism since Trump remains a key political ally and, unlike Musk, is an elected leader.
In other parts of Europe, the choice appears clearer. Parties such as Hungary's Fidesz under Viktor Orbán and France's National Rally, now led by Jordan Bardella, have consistently aligned themselves with Trump's nationalist agenda.
Orbán, one of Trump's closest allies in Europe, frequently echoes his anti-immigration rhetoric and strongman leadership style. Bardella has praised Trump's patriotism and nationalist policies, while showing little public admiration for Musk.
Elsewhere, parties like Poland's Law and Justice (PiS), Austria's Freedom Party (FPÖ), and Spain's Vox have seen Musk act more as a sympathetic amplifier of their messages rather than as a political partner.
While Musk has given visibility to far-right narratives on his social media platform, he lacks the political authority or ideological consistency that many of these parties find in Trump.
As the Trump-Musk feud continues to unfold, Europe's right-wing movements may be forced into a reckoning. Do they align with a political icon who has shaped modern populism or with a tech mogul whose influence lies in platforms, not policies?
For now, many are watching and waiting. But if tensions escalate further, silence may no longer be an option.
